Pound of Dirt

Grandma says to eat a pound of dirt a year to be healthy. I ate my pound today, so I should be good until next November, right? I was out doing more yardwork than I had done all year. I blew leaves, raked, mowed. My dog likes to play fetch, so there are now dirt paths she takes to chase down her ball in my yard. When I was blowing leaves, I also blew a lot of dirt. There were clouds of dust and dirt swirling around me. By the time I was done, I literally had dirt coming out my nose. I went to the sink for some water, but decided to rinse out my mouth first when I felt grit on my teeth. When I wiped the drops of water from around my mouth, I could feel the dirt slide across my cheek. It was time for a shower. When I took off my socks, I thought I had gotten a tan, but then I realized it was a dirt line. I stared at the streams of dirt flowing down the center of the tub and felt pride. I hadn’t been that dirty in awhile.

I used to be dirty all the time when I was a kid. We’d roll down hills, jump in puddles, climb trees, stomp through creeks. In soccer, we knew we didn’t play hard enough if our socks weren’t covered in mud and grass stains by the final whistle. Kids don’t seem to be getting that dirty anymore.

My tween daughter is all about the beauty products these days. What’s trending? I need it. Well, honey, guess what? I just used this dirt and sweat exfoliant, and it works great! And it’s free! Add a little fresh air and sunshine, and your face will glow like mine!

Come on kids! Stop looking at sunset photos and playing games on your tech devices. Get outside. Find your own fun. Appreciate nature in 3-D. Eat some dirt. It’s good for you!

Life Lesson Haikus

Dad made lunch today
Peanut butter and pickles
Best sandwich ever

Cool treats beat the heat
Summer house cherry dip cone
Lick fast or feed grass

Thunder clouds roll in
View light show from the porch swing
Lightning strikes tall things

Chocolate chip cookies
So many kinds to choose from
Grandma’s are the best

Empty parking lot
Dad taught me to drive stick shift
Rev lurch screech buck stall

Scary Things

My friend recently sent me a video of a house decorated for Halloween with scary things. The decorations were signs that read things like laundry, rent, taxes, calories, bills, and gas prices. First I was going to react with an LOL emoji, but then I thought the Scream emoji made more sense. They can certainly sneak up on you and cause panic. They are also reasons to want to remain a well-cared for child forever. 

Yes, children, we know you can do it by yourself and you want to be independent, but believe me when I say, adulthood has way more tricks than treats!

Happy Halloween!